Music-leaf turner



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. G. STINSON.

MUSIC LEAF TURNER.

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(No Model.)

. J. O. STINSON.

MUSIC LEAF TURNER. No. 515,724. Patented Feb. 27, 1894.

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fizzy '1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES C. STINSON, OF IVOLFE CITY, EXAS.

MUSIC-LEAF TURNER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 515,724, dated February 27, 1894.

Applieationfiled December 27,1890. $erialNo. 376,006. (No modelfil To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES C. STINSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Volfe City, in the county of Hunt and State of Texas, haveinventedcertainlmprovementsinMnsie Leaf Turners, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved music leaf turner, to be attached to a piano or organ, by means of which the performer can turn thelcaves to the right or left, by foot pressure, thus rendering it unnecessary to take the hands away from the keys for this purpose.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my improvement applied to an upright piano. Fig. 2 is an end view partly in section of a portion of the de vice, the casing being removed. Fig. 3 is a front view of the same. Fig. 4, represents four of the hinged leaves, showing the manner of constructing the same. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the hooks. Fig. 6 isa detail sectional view showing the two slides, the two hooks and the hinged leaves. Fig. 7 is a back view of the music board or rack. Fig. 8 is a detail view showing the hinged leaves and one of the hooks for turning the same.

In the said drawings, the reference letter A designates an upright piano, having pivoted to its under side at b, a foot treadle B, extending from the front to the rear thereof. There are two of these treadles, one at each end of the piano, but as each and its connections is an exact duplicate of the other, a description of one will suffice for both. The rear end of this treadle at b, is pivoted, loosely, to a vertical rod or bar 0, to the upper end of which is pivoted at c, a crank arm D, secured to ashaft E, journaled in suitable bearings in the top of the piano and extending across the same from the rear to the front. At its front end this shaft is provided with a downwardly extending arm F, located in rear of the music board or rack J, secured to the piano in an inclined position as seen more clearly in Fig. 2. The lower end of this arm F passes loosely through a hole in a slide G, provided with flanges g, which pass through and work in a slot in the music board. Between these flanges and pivoted thereto is an inwardly extending hook II.

The letter K designates a series of leaves hinged to the lower part of the music board, each being provided with a slot Z, aligned with the hook II, and with a slot m, aligned with the opposite hook II. These leaves are also numbered 1, 2, 3, 4-, respectively for the purpose of more clearly describing the same. It will be seen that these leaves at or about the center of their outer edges are cut away forming shoulders 71, the cuts increasing gradually in depth from No. l to No. 4, so that when the leaves are folded upon each other with No. a at the bottom and No. l. at the top, the said shoulders will overlap each other as seen in Fig. 8. In like manner the lower part of theleaves are cut away forming shoulders n. In this case however the cuts decrease in depth from No. l to No. 4, so that when folded upon each other in reverse order, they will also overlap each other similar to the shoulders in Fig.8, but pointing in the opposite direction. The free ends of the leaves are provided with arms M, to which the music leaves are connected by means of cords N, passing through eyelets P in the music board. As seen in Fig. 8, each of these cords is doubled and passes around the end of the arm and up through the eyelet where it is secured to the back of the music board. These cords are made of rubber or other elastic material, and by being doubled two strands are formed between which the music leaves are inserted.

The operation is as follows: The music leaves being inserted between the strands of the cords connected with the arms M, one leaf to each arm, said arms and leaves are turned over say to the right of the piano. hen it is desired to turn one of the leaves, the treadle at the left of the instrument is depressed and through the medium of its connections the slide G will be moved to the left. The hook II now engaging with the shoulder n of the uppermost hinge leaf will throw it over toward the left of the board, thus turning the sheet or leaf of music. As the hinge leaf nearly completes its movement, the hook will slide into the slot Z, so as to insure that the arms shall be properly turned to their fullest extent. Pressure upon the treadle is now relieved when the slide and hook will be returned to normal position,through the medium of a spring connected with the treadle, but not shown. A spring should also be connected with the hook so as to insure its engaging with'the hinge leaves. As will be seen the free end of the hook is rounded or beveled so that it will ride over the hinged ends of the said leaves in its return movement. The hook and connections at the opposite side of the music board being similarly constructed, it is obvious that by depressing the treadle at that side the hook connected therewith will engage with the shoulder n of the hinge leaf and the sheets will be turned to the right of the instrument.

The letter I designates a casing or housing for the slides and hooks.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a'music leaf turner, the combination with the music board, and the hinged leaves having overlapping shoulders at their outer edges and provided with outwardly ext ing arms, of means substantially as described for operating said arms.

2. In a music leaf turner, the combination with the music board, and the hinged leaves having overlapping shoulders at their outer edges and outwardly extending arms and formed with slots or apertures, of the hooks adapted to engage with said shoulders and slots, the slides having flanges to which said hooks are pivoted, the foot treadles and connections for operating said slides, and the doubled elastic cords connected with the free ends of said arms and passing through eyelets near the upper end of the'music board substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto aifixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES C. STINSON.

Witnesses:

J. M. REAGAN, E. M. TILLMANN. 

